DeSantis Signs Bills Targeting Squatters

SARASOTA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference Monday to sign two bills aimed at limiting squatters' rights in Florida.

Held at The Westin Sarasota, DeSantis addressed the topic as a growing issue in Florida, which was first addressed by legislation he signed last year aimed at making it easier for people to remove squatters from residential properties.

This year, DeSantis has turned his attention to squatters on commercial properties, such as hotels, signing Florida Senate bills 322 and 606 in front of media, supporters and local officials.

SB 322 addresses commercial property squatting by adding expedited eviction procedures for unauthorized occupants. It also streamlines the property reclaiming process for the owner without requiring lengthy legal battles.

SB 606 strengthens hotel and motel owners' rights against uncooperative guests, or guests who aren't paying their bills — clarifying that guests are transient unless otherwise stated in a written agreement.

While a person's residence at a hotel could be caused by a lack of housing options, DeSantis said, that was the "exception and not the rule."

DeSantis said last year's new law has been really effective, stating "cumbersome bureaucracy" was the cause of local law enforcement not having the ability before to evict people who are on private property illegally.

"We are not going to let people's private residences, even if it's a vacation home, be commandeered by people who aren't paying to be there," DeSantis said.

Both bills also update the notification process for guest removal in certain situations, such as when a guest fails to check out.

Under the two new laws, written notice must be provided and can now be delivered by email, text message or in printed form, offering flexibility in notifying a squatter.

Both pieces of legislation allow for criminal charges up to a first-degree felony for squatters who engage in authorizing or leasing process properties in conjunction with criminal activities.

Incoming Florida state Senate President Jim Boyd, Venice Mayor Nick Pachota and Venice City Manager Ed Lavallee, Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters, state Rep. Danny Nix and Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman were in attendance at Monday's bill signing.

Gil Reyes, The Westin Sarasota general manager, said the bills bring "much-needed clarity and modernization" to how Florida defines lodging rules and transient.

According to Hoffman, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office completes nearly 700 evictions a year, equaling about two or three per day on residential properties.

Hoffman shared one instance, where a squatter handwrote a lease to a dead woman's home in the county, and began breaking down the house to "sell for scrap."

While the owner's family — who lived in London — retained an attorney where they lived, the eviction process has still not allowed law enforcement to remove the squatter from the house.

Hoffman said that person has a history of doing this to other properties by following obituaries in Sarasota County newspapers.

Lavallee shared his support of the legislation and of DeSantis.

"It's protecting the interests of the property and the commercial property owners," Lavallee said. "(DeSantis is) broad-based thinking, no prejudice thinking. He's been great to the state, our community, and he's great for Venice."

DeSantis hinted his administration will be taking on property taxes in the coming weeks, sharing his opposition to taxing a home that is owned by a person.

"I think if you own your home, you know, at some point for them to tax you for decades on property that you've already purchased and owned outright, that undercuts the idea of having private property rights," DeSantis said.

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